Upper Mississippi River

Early Warning Monitoring Network (UMR EWMN)

Scoping Group

Conference Call Summary

March 30, 2007

Participants

Rodney Tucker	Iowa DNR
Mike Anderson	Iowa DNR
Bob Holmes	USGS, Illinois Water Science Center
Tim Ganz	American Water Company
Dave Kull	Iowa American Water-Davenport
Greg Swanson	City of Moline
Mark Ellis	UMRBA
Dave Hokanson	UMRBA

Evaluation Report for Pilot Monitoring Station at Lock & Dam 15

All were in agreement that the evaluation report for the pilot monitoring station had been developed to acceptable level, and that it should be finalized as soon as possible (with a few minor corrections, as noted by Hokanson).

Future of Pilot Monitoring Station at Lock & Dam 15

The group discussed how to proceed regarding the pilot monitoring station at Lock & Dam 15 in Rock Island, Illinois. The bulkhead of the sonde has deteriorated, allowing for water infiltration and resulting damage to probes. Initial discussion expressed skepticism regarding continuing the pilot station with the current type of instrumentation, as there has been little progress on other fronts regarding the early warning monitoring network (EWMN). Swanson and Anderson expressed an interest in investing funds toward a petroleum detection system, if more money was to be spent on monitoring equipment. However, further discussion brought out the view, expressed by Holmes and others, that the current instrument should be repaired or replaced, as it was important to keep momentum going forward and that developing a more extensive data record would be beneficial. Hokanson also informed the group that there were likely enough funds remaining in the cooperative agreement with US EPA to allow for repair/replacement of the YSI multiparameter sonde, but not enough funds to acquire and install a petroleum detection device.

Ultimately the Group came to the consensus that the existing equipment should be repaired or replaced, if possible, and sought to verify this approach with the UMR Hazardous Spills Coordination Group during its meeting on April 19, 2007. Hokanson and Ganz concurred with the approach, but cautioned that further work would only be meaningful if funding and organizational questions were also pursued simultaneously.

Funding and Organizational Considerations

Anderson emphasized the importance of having all the UMR States “on board” with the effort, and the value of highlighting the homeland security aspects of a system. Tucker suggested that support be developed within the UMRBA (Board) for the project. Holmes mentioned that there is a precedent for an interagency agreement between the USGS and the US EPA to provide for a similar monitoring system. He suggested that this could potentially be a vehicle for funding of the EWMN. Holmes also noted that, if CWA Section 319 funding was pursued as an option, it would require States to provide a portion of the funds up front. Anderson added that agriculture-related issues/gulf hypoxia could be added to the appeal for a monitoring system.

Swanson commented that it was appropriate and important to keep pursuing multiple fronts regarding both organizational options and funding sources. He suggested several areas in which progress could be made as follows:

• Finalizing UMR EWMN proposal.
• Further developing estimates of costs as part of the proposal.
• Developing a one-pager to share broadly to build support for the monitoring system.
• Working with the Illinois Lt. Governor’s Office and Illinois’ new Mississippi River Coordinating Council.

Action Items

As a result of the discussion during the call, the Group identified the following as action items to be addressed in the near future:

1) Investigating options/expense associated with YSI sonde repair/replacement (Hokanson-Kull).

2) Completion of pilot station evaluation report (Hokanson).

3) Development of one-pager regarding the EWMN (Hokanson-Ganz-Swanson).

4) Further development of network expansion proposal (Hokanson-Ganz).

5) Letter/communication with UMRBA Board (Hokanson-Ganz)